Are you concerned about your baby's or infant growth? It makes you think and panic a little when you noticed that your baby doesn't seem to be growing as fast as the other babies?

Well, I think you shouldn't panic at all. There are so many factors or explanation regarding infant growth charts.

Healthy infants come in a range of sizes. The rate at which your infant grows in the first year depends on several factors, including sex, diet and genetics. For example, boys usually grow faster than girls do, and bottle-fed babies tend to put on weight faster than breast-fed babies do.

Many healthy babies go through brief periods when they stop gaining weight or even lose a little weight. However, a doctor would likely be concerned only if an otherwise healthy baby doesn't gain weight for three consecutive well-baby exams during the first year.

Doctors monitor infant growth chart at well-baby exams using standard growth charts, which compare your baby's weight, height and head circumference with those of other babies who are the same sex and age. Infants who fall below a certain weight range for their age or who are failing to gain weight at the expected rate may require further evaluation.

So how much should you expect your infant to grow in the first year?

* Weight. Infants generally gain 4 to 7 ounces (113 to 198 grams) a week during the first month. After the first month, they gain an average of 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) a month for the first six months. From six months to 1 year, they gain about 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) a month.
* Height. Infants generally grow about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) a month during the first six months, and about 1/2 inch (1 centimeter) a month from six months to one year.

Below is a table of infant growth chart that you can use or you may depend upon.

Infant Growth Chart - Baby Growth Chart
Adapted from the National Center for Health Statistics, 2000

Age of infant	Average growth in height	Average growth in weight
0-6 months	6-7 inches (15-18 centimeters)	7-12 pounds (3-5 kilograms)
6-12 months	3-4 inches (8-10 centimeters)	5-7 pounds (2-3 kilograms)
12-24 months	4-5 inches (10-13 centimeters)	5-7 pounds (2-3 kilograms)

Hope this post helps you out in regards with infant growth chart - baby growth chart questions and/or problems of yours. And if you're still concerned and a little bit of doubtful about your child's size or rate of growth, consult your child's doctor.

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This is an original article I find while browsing the web for some helpful ideas, advice and article about baby growth spurts. I find this one really useful and helpful for those persons who are really having a hard time dealing with the baby growth spurts situation.

This is a very basic explanation and really simple advice that we can easy implement during this "growth spurts" period of time.

Enough of the talks and introductions, here is the article.

If there is a rule that would help moms survive growth spurts with a smile, it would have to be, "Don't Watch The Clock!" Don't watch the clock for how long baby has been nursing. Don't watch the clock for how long it's been since baby last wanted to nurse. Don't watch the clock for how many times you've been awakened that night to nurse.

Signs of a Growth Spurt

* Baby is nursing often or almost nonstop
* A baby who was previously sleeping through the night is now waking to nurse several times
* Baby will latch and unlatch, fussing in between

These signs are all signals to the mom's body to "MAKE MORE MILK NOW!" Our bodies listen very well if we will merely respond to the baby's needs. The extra suckling will stimulate your body to make more milk.

Often Observed After a Growth Spurt

* Baby sleeps extra for a day or two
* Mom is a bit fuller than usual for a day or so
* Baby calms down at the breast
* You may see an increase in wettings with the increased supply baby is drinking

Growth spurts seem to throw new moms for a loop. Just when they thought they were beginning to understand their baby's signals, they abruptly changed. The frequent requests to nurse can be confusing as well as the frequency with which growth spurts happen within the first few months. The key is purely and simply to go with the flow (pun intended!) If you respond to your baby's signals to nurse during a growth spurt and do not interfere with them in any manner, your body will quickly respond and increase supply. Typically it happens within 24 to 48 hours. Sometimes growth spurts seem to drag on for a week. This would be a good time to make sure you're drinking plenty water.

You may visit the original article/post at Dr. Jay Gordon Website.

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